The
Dark Prophecy (The Trials of Apollo #2)
by
Rick Riordan
Publication
Date: May 2nd 2017
Publisher:
Disney-Hyperion
Source: Bought
Source: Bought
Find
This Book: The Dark Prophecy
Rating:
4/5
There’s
nothing quite like the sun on my book and the sea salt breeze in my hair to
finish up a good read! With this fourth review of Riordan’s book, he now pulls
into the lead of most reviewed author here on Love at First Write. I am happy
to say that I absolutely loved this book though I do have some qualms with it.
Of course the typical Riordan wit and banter that we all know and love is in
this book, and for that writing style alone I will probably always buy Riordan’s
books.
I
want to start by saying that Apollo is expressly and canonically bisexual which
is pretty fantastic! One of his past male lovers makes an appearance in this
book- with lots of juicy flashbacks. There are also some flirty scenes peppered throughout with both men and women. The
combat and action left me with no complaints, and it was so amusing to watch
Apollo and Calypso struggle without their divine powers. Apollo’s perspective
on all of the things he used to task demigods with is also really interesting.
I adore this new perspective of an old universe that Rick Riordan has now given us.
One
thing I did not really like about the book was how easily Meg and Apollo got
back together. The Dream Team was reunited and Apollo clearly cares about her,
but she was so psychologically entrenched in Nero at the end of the last book
and now she’s running away from Nero? With not much of an explanation? Seems
like a cop-out. Additionally, I didn’t fear for any of the characters lives in
any of the battles. Apollo and Meg have to be alive for the next book, Calypso
and Leo just found each other and were not about to get killed off. Even their
new friends Emmie, Jo, and, Georgina seemed protected by plot-armor. It seemed like his older
works were so powerful because side characters became so developed and got
killed off suddenly (but not for no reason), such as Charlie Beckendorf and Silena Beauregard. The quick reunion and plot-armor didn’t detract from the book in my opinion, but it did take some of the
suspense away and that took away a star for me (though I suppose some fates are
worse than death).
My
favorite part about this whole book is the character development of Apollo. He
meets characters that gave up their divinity and immortality for love and
humanity and he seems to understand that desire. He’s becoming more caring and
human each day. I’m not entirely sure if he’ll become a god again if he succeeds
in his quests, though I can’t imagine the world without the god Apollo. I’m not
sure who’s taken over his role driving the sun chariot while he’s exiled to
earth… Apollo acknowledges that there are gods of other traditions, but doesn’t
acknowledge where gods overlap (such as the various gods of the sun).
Last
but not least: the reappearance of Grover Underwood. Apparently Riordan did not
in fact forget about him, even though he basically made Grover drop off the
face of the earth after The Last Olympian. I’m so excited to get even more
Grover (and enchilada) action in The Burning Maze!!
